Audi A5 Coupe Mild Hybrid 2.0 TFSI S tronic (A) Facelift Review

The focus in our new car market today seems to be skewed towards offering coupe-like variants.

Four-door coupes and crossover-coupes might be an interesting take on traditional body styles that we've all grown used to, but it is indeed refreshing to get into an actual two-door coupe.

And there can't be a better way to find that out than in the recently refreshed Audi A5 Coupe.

Looks familiar

It might take a keen eye to spot the differences here. For a brand that is more evolutionary than revolutionary in its designs, the A5 seemingly feels unchanged from when we last saw it in 2017.

The clearest differences are seen up front. Here, a wider and lower Singleframe grille takes centre stage, flanked by new Matrix LED head lights, which come as standard.

But there is no need for fanciful additions because the A5 Coupe is appealing as it is. It never needs to shout about its existence, unlike some of its German coupe competitors.

A usable space

Inside the changes also aren't apparent, and that is good news.

While the rest of Audi's new range consists of multiple screens to control various infotainment and vehicle systems, the A5 generally maintains the same interface and controls as the pre-facelift car.

But it doesn't feel like it has aged. Here, you still have actual knobs and touch-sensitive switches that look and feel good to use, which begs the question if there is ever a need to have everything displayed on screens.

On the topic of screens, the main improvement here is the updated 10.1-inch Modular Infotainment Platform 3 (MIB 3) screen that replaces the older Multi Media Interface (MMI).

It is a fluid and easy-to-use system that comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but we wished Audi kept the MMI knob on the centre console for easier control of infotainment functions.

Elsewhere, the car remains to be a pretty practical and comfortable space.

Seating position is spot on, with enough lumbar support for long drives. And with a fairly large 450-litre boot, it'll swallow luggage for two with ease.

Sounds good, but is it underpowered?

The other change for the A5 happens under the hood. The facelift brings an updated 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder mild hybrid lump that makes 148bhp and 270Nm of torque.

Yes, you read that right. But the A5 Coupe isn't meant to be a bruiser. You can get yourself an S5 or RS5 Coupe if power is a requirement.

The numbers aren't spectacular. But there is something about how the A5 drives that makes it pretty special.

For starters, there is a certain way that the 2.0-litre lump puts all that power down. It is smooth and linear, and surprisingly manages to have quite a bit of punch if you ever need it.

This is partly thanks to the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic that does good work in selecting the right cogs in response to your right foot.

The linear and predictable powerplant compliments the A5's comfort abilities well.

When you're about town and you leave the A5 to its own devices, it is a seamless experience - especially when the mild hybrid system allows the engine to switch off and coast.

With that mild hybrid wizardry, the A5 manages to do well in our fuel economy test, coming in at 12.3km/L with over 200km of driving.

All A's for this Audi

The Audi A5 Coupe might not be a big surprise to many, and the changes in this facelift might not seem like a big deal.

While others are more flamboyant and expressive in design and features, the A5 strives to be excellent on the basics. Amongst its peers like the Mercedes C-Class Coupe and the new BMW 4 Series, the A5 feels like the dependable choice, offering good amounts of usability, practicality, and comfort abilities.

And refreshing it is to come back to a coupe that covers all of these bases.